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In March 2020, my brother’s wedding plans were put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With rising cases and government restrictions, the celebration we had all been looking forward to was cancelled. Fast forward to last week, during my holiday in my hometown. I brought up the idea of holding a smaller, more intimate gathering to celebrate my brother and sister-in-law, despite the circumstances.

The main challenge was that the pandemic not only made the celebration impossible but also affected the budget we had initially set aside for the big day. My parents had originally wanted to give the wedding funds directly to my brother, thinking that would be the most practical use of the money. However, much of the budget had already been spent—especially on 40 chickens and a large amount of meat that couldn’t be refunded. So, what to do with all those chickens and meat?

After some brainstorming, my dad decided to organize a Doa Selamat at the nearby mosque and host a family dinner at home with the bride’s family. Since my parents usually take care of catering for events like this, they handled the meals while I took care of the rest. Even though we couldn’t have the full traditional wedding celebration, I was determined to ensure my brother and sister-in-law had something memorable.

To keep the gathering small and in line with current SOPs, I told my parents to invite only immediate family, limiting the guest list to just 16 people—far from the usual 500-person Malay wedding.

Here’s how the wedding dinner turned out:

Decorations

Luckily, I had already purchased most of the items in early 2020 during a trip to Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. I also made a few last-minute DIY purchases from Shopee. For the wedding dinner, I decided on a simple, Western-style theme. Since the idea came together last minute, I used whatever I could find. My goal was to create an elegant atmosphere while keeping it manageable with the limited time and resources available.

For the dining area, I rented three banquet tables, each with a white tablecloth to give it a clean, polished look. I also rented 20 plastic chairs to match the tables, though half of them were actually from my parents’ dining set to save on costs. The total rental fee for everything was a very affordable RM50, which helped us stick to the budget. In the end, the simple, understated setup ended up looking great and felt just right for the intimate celebration we had in mind.

Wedding Favors

For the wedding favours, I wanted to keep things simple but thoughtful. I prepared Bunga Telur as a traditional touch, along with some Nabati snacks and BBQ-flavored fish snacks to give guests a little something savoury to enjoy. To add a more personalized touch, I also included travel pouches in the goodie bags. I rolled each pouch neatly and added a small wedding sticker to give it a special, customized look. I found the travel pouches on Shopee, and they turned out to be both practical and affordable. For the finishing touch, I made the wedding tags myself with a bit of DIY effort and hung them on the goodie bag string. It was a simple yet meaningful gesture to thank everyone for celebrating with us, even though it was a smaller gathering.

The backdrop

I wanted to create a simple yet beautiful setting that felt festive and fitting for the occasion. I bought small flowers and vines from Nilai to decorate the space, giving it a soft, floral vibe. The lush leaves on both sides of the backdrop were purchased from Shopee: Vivid Green Garden Wall. I also bought four bunches of leaves—two for the backdrop and two for the couple’s table, ensuring a consistent and cohesive look throughout.

The curtains were borrowed from my aunt, and to add a touch of sparkle, I added LED string lights, which I also found on Shopee: Backdrop curtain LED string. I opted for cold white lights, as they complemented the other elements nicely. I hung the lights on the backdrop itself and above the couple’s table to create a glowing, intimate atmosphere. To enhance the garden theme, I placed a grass carpet below the backdrop, adding a fresh, natural feel to the entire space.

Table Decorations

I started with a classic white tablecloth as the base, then added a white curtain down the center of each table to create more texture and dimension. For the table decorations, I used birdcages, leaves, and flowers that I had bought from Nilai, and I also ordered tropical green leaves (Tropical Hawaiian Green Leaves) from Shopee, placing them under the plates to add a fresh, natural touch to each setting.

For the utensils, I wrapped them in green paper napkins (Paper Napkin Wedding Decoration) which also served as part of the table decoration. To enhance the ambience, I bought lavender-scented candles from both DIY shops and Eco, priced at just RM2.00 each. The candles added a soft, romantic glow to the tables. I kept the plates and bowls simple, all in white, to maintain a clean, timeless aesthetic. For the bride and groom’s table, I pre-served the food to make it easier for them to enjoy their meal. For the rest of the guests, I set up a buffet-style spread next to the main dining table, allowing everyone to help themselves.

The Menu

For the main dishes, my parents took charge of preparing some of our family’s favourite recipes: white rice, ayam masak merah, kurma daging, and masak lemak rebung. These comforting dishes were sure to fill everyone with warmth and nostalgia. One of my brothers, in his own contribution, made satay and BBQ chicken, adding a deliciously smoky flavour to the spread.

For dessert, I opted for a rich and indulgent Boston chocolate cake to serve as the wedding cake, adding a sweet touch to the celebration. I also made apple asam boi, a refreshing treat that added a tangy contrast to the sweetness of the cake. As a gesture of hospitality, the bride’s family sent over freshly made curry puffs, filling the table with even more tasty bites.

To wash everything down, I prepared orange juice for a zesty refreshment and plain water to keep things simple and hydrating.

The wedding dinner, though small, was filled with joy and meaningful memories. Despite being a family-only event, we all had a wonderful time, and it’s something we’ll always look back on fondly. Honestly, there were moments when I almost wished I could’ve had my own wedding during the pandemic. It would have saved so much money! 

To my brother and sister-in-law, I love you both so much. May your marriage be blessed and last until Jannah. Ameen.